Shower Curtain Chronicles: January 2007

Shower Curtain Chronicles

Latex painted shower curtains make great, cheap, waterproof banners to display at demonstrations, over freeways or anyplace you want to take it to the anti-gay, anti-Constitution fascists. This blog will feature banners I've made over the years, commentary on the outrages du jour, general observations and accounts of the latest actions by our blog troop as we wield the bathroom accessory cum political billboard.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

It's None Of Their Business

Exactly what business is it of anyone's if my partner and I go down to the courthouse and get a marriage license? I mean really. If our different-sexed, married couple neighbors don't like the idea of two men getting a marriage license...so fucking what. What right do they have to object to anyone else's getting a government issued marriage license that THEY obviously had access to? Who tried to stop them? Why should they be able to limit the issuance of marriage licenses to couples they like?
Let's say they cite their religious beliefs as a source of their objection. SO WHAT? What the fuck does THEIR religion have to do with US? We are citizens of a country and a state with religious freedom. That means we don't have to live according to someone else's religious beliefs. It also means that the government has no business imposing someone else's religious beliefs on us, even though we know that doesn't stop them unconstitutionally from doing so, and frequently.
What causes people to even think that they should be able to stop OTHER PEOPLE from getting a marriage license? What arrogance! It has nothing whatsoever to do with them. It has no effect on their lives. If my partner and I went down to the courthouse and got a marriage license they would never even know it. Think about it. The gay couple has been living next door for ten years, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, putting the garbage out. Everyone in the neighborhood sees that it's two men living together. Then one day the couple goes down to the courthouse and gets a marriage license and they go to a judge and get married. And the next day, they mow the lawn and put the garbage out just like they've been doing for the past ten years. Nobody even necessarily knows that the couple is now married. Everything is the same in everyone else's life.
HOW DOES OUR GETTING MARRIED HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH STRANGERS' LIVES??? OUR MARRIAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE ELSE! IT IS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!

Senate and House Meet Thursday, Feb.1

I had to call the Senate to confirm that there will be a floor session tomorrow at 11:00 AM. There's still nothing on their website. So, I'll be at the Senate at 10:30. The House meets, as I posted earlier, at 10:00. I'll be there at 9:30.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

What A Happy Snowman

Next Session Thursday Feb. 1

The House will meet in session on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 10:00 AM. I'll be there at 9:30. The Senate hasn't scheduled yet. I'll post it when they do.

Monday, January 29, 2007

January 29 Capitol Blogging

While I was in front of the Senate today, one person who later went into the Senate chamber, came up to me and asked if I was going to be there for every floor session. I said I was going to try. He seemed pleased. Was he a senator? I found a more visible location today facing the door to the offices where there's a lot of traffic. Left a little after 11:00.

Broke for lunch at Cabin Fever on 7th. It's a little basement cafe in the block just past Cosetta's. The proprietors are very supportive of my protesting. Great food too.

Over at the House at noon it seemed a bit more active than usual. There must be some big piece of legislation in play. Rep. Haws came over and chatted. Nice man. Reminds me a little of the actor Will Geer. Left about 12:40.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Senate and House Meet, Monday, Jan. 29

The Senate meets in floor session at 11:00 AM. I'll be there at 10:30. The House meets at 12:30. I'll be there at noon.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Today's Capitol Blogging

It was debut day for this shower curtain at the Capitol. Premiers are so much fun. I used a narrower brush on this one, hoping to fit the words in with a bit less sweating. There's nothing worse than spending an hour painting nice even letters then realizing you'll have to squish everything together at the end to fit the last word in . Oh well, the important thing is to get the words down and get it out there.
When I was in front of the House today, a DFL legislator came up and asked me why I was there everyday. I said I made a commitment to be there the entire session because I want to keep marriage equality on the minds of legislators. The legislator asked if anything was coming up this session. I said I don't know but I hope so. The legislator then said if marriage equality comes to the floor, "I'll vote for it."
At the Senate side, a DFL senator who never says anything to me even though I regularly greet her with good morning, came up to me and only said disgustedly, "There's no one here anymore that disagrees with you." As if to say, why don't you go away? or why can't you just be happy as a second class citizen and leave us alone? Apparently, the senator is bothered by my message demanding equality for gay families. Good. That's why I'm there.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

House and Senate Meet, Thursday, Jan. 25

The House will meet at 10:00 AM on Thursday. I will be there at 9:30. The Senate convenes at 11:45 AM. I will be there at 11:15. Wierd time for the Senate.
So, see everyone there!

Monday, January 22, 2007

More Anti-Choice Day

I started out in front of the Senate with the CIVIL MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL RIGHT AND HUMAN RIGHT shower curtain. An interesting man with a camera came up and we had a discussion about the holocaust, local hate groups and lamented the passing of the pink triangle. We agreed that the pink triangle was the best symbol because of its historical significance. He related that he is a gypsy and that the nazis made the gypsies wear brown triangles.
Later, over at the House, I was accosted by an anti-choice woman who apparently had been employed by god as a spokesperson. The boundless arrogance of these people is astounding. It should be noted that these are the same people who were at the Capitol demanding an amendment to the Constitution last year that would make equality illegal.
There were positive affirmations from several legislators that I know and from some that I don't. I'll have to look them up in the directory. A young man chased me down as I was leaving just to thank me for being there with my sign. That was nice.

Anti-Choice Group Darkens Capitol

It's important to remember the anti-choice people that were casting shadows at the Capitol today are the same gay-hating bastards who were at the Capitol last year calling for a popular vote on my civil rights. The same people.
One of them came up to me today while I was standing in front of the House and asked why I wasn't outside at the "pro life" rally. Remember, I'm holding a shower curtain that says in very bold print, CIVIL MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL RIGHT AND HUMAN RIGHT. The unbelievable arrogance of these people. I hadn't said anything to this woman, I didn't look at her, I was just holding a sign that had NOTHING to do with her or her life or her purpose at the Capitol. She's just so fucking superior to everyone she's gotta foist herself, unprovokedly, onto a complete stranger and tell them how inferior they are...and what "god" thinks. God's own little press secretary.
Their turnout was small, just like their hearts and brains.

Today

Anti-Choice Day At Capitol

The anit-choice kooks will be massing at the Capitol today. That should make me look normal.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Senate and House Meet Monday, Jan. 22


The Senate meets at 11:00 and the House at 12:30. I'll be at the Senate around 10:30 and the House around noon.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Support the Troops...MY ASS!

If you want to see exactly who the people are in this country that DO NOT support the troops, look for the cars with those Support Our Troops bumper stickers on them. This "support the troops" campaign was, from the beginning, an attempt to shame and marginalize people who are opposed to sending our young people into a bloody war without purpose and without end. The "support the troops" campaign was designed to make war possible, sending our troops to their certain death by silencing citizens who would stop our country from engaging in the senseless and illegal Iraq blood bath. Most people who sport these bumper stickers and ribbons on their cars are violence-worshiping, power-licking losers that love the idea of war. The troops, to them, are just objects to exploit in their war dreams quest. People who actually care about the lives of the troops and want them to stay well would never put one of these war-cheering stickers on their car.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Blogging State of the State

There was a lot more security than usual today around the House because of the governor's speech. I had the Marriage Equality Is Overdue shower curtain and was flanked by several Welfare Rights people waving signs and yelling at Pawlenty. I'm glad they were there to bring some reality to all the pomp and bullshit. Last year there were a lot more protesters because of the bigot contingent. Not one this year except the signless, disturbed hobbit peering from behind a pillar.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Today's Capitol Blogging

Arrived at the Senate about 10:40. One of the security guards was in a playful mood. After I stood in a different place than I usually do he pointed to my usual spot and said, "your assigned location is over there." He and others have really been quite helpful and friendly over the years doing things like shagging away the rare, aggressive bigot and steering me into a really visible location.
Once last year, however, there was this older one that sidled up to me and grumbled, "that's a terrible sign," referring to the They Legislate Hate In Our State sign. I told him "what they're (the legislators pictured in the sign) doing is terrible." He really didn't have any business making such a comment while on duty and of course he knew that or he wouldn't have said it in such a hushed tone.
Anyway, I finished up at the Senate at 11:00 and then made my way over to the House after taking a break to leaf through the legislative directory. I like to try to put names to faces and there are a lot of new faces this year. I took my place at 11:35 and left when they closed the doors at noon. I try to be gone before the invocation starts because it is just plain wrong for the government to engage in religious rituals and it's just awful to hear it happening.
You don't have religious freedom in a state or country where the lawmaking body begins it's work by officially engaging in a favored religion's rituals.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Joint Session Wednesday, Jan. 17

The Governor will deliver the State of the State Address on Wednesday at noon in the House chambers. Both the Senate and House members, the cabinet and the Supreme Court justices will be in attendance.
I remember last year at the event I was holding a sign that read "No Referendum On My Civil Rights." The Supreme Court justices were waiting to go into the chamber and I noticed Alan Page looking at my sign. We made solid eye contact and he gave me a big nod. He knows.
There will be a lot of different protests going on at the House entrance and it's the place to be. I plan on showing up around 11:00 to get a good spot.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Senate and House Meet Tuesday, Jan. 16

Here's one of the shower curtains I used yesterday at the Capitol.

The Senate will be in session at 11:00 and the House at 12:00, Tuesday. My plan is to be in front of the Senate at about 10:30 and then move over to the House around 11:30. There's plenty of room.
I think the value of showing up in front of these legilators on a regular basis with a message promoting marriage equality is that it contributes to creating a more positive atmosphere in the Capitol toward gay marriage. Even one person showing up, just a human prop with a message can have an effect, especially if counter messages are absent, which they have been so far. More people showing up adds to the effect.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Today's Capitol Blogging

Just got back from blogging both houses of the legislature. The House met at 10:00 and the Senate at 11:00 so I was able to cover both handily. After the representatives had all filed in and the doors closed on the House, I packed up and moved over to the Senate. I'd like to provide you with a picture of the shower curtain du jour but "blogger" sucks unmercifully and frequently so I can't upload one.
Saw Rep. Mary Murphy for the first time this session. We hugged and then she told the people around us that I was her student. True. I added "former" student. In 1970, she was my high school American History teacher in Duluth. She was funny and good natured then and still is.
The leaders from the other side have been sculking around. I don't know if they have other evil to spread when they're not flogging marriage or if they are dedicated full time to anti-gay marriage. If the latter is true then they seem to be trying to pick up on conversations I'm having with lawmakers. One of them is this guy that could be best described as a disturbed hobbit who suddenly appeared from behind a pillar after I spoke with Scott Dibble. The one I refer to as "closet case" took a picture of me on opening day. And of course there was "fancy pants" Prichard lurking behind me on Monday. Paranoid? Perhaps. But, it wouldn't be out of character for this bunch to be spying. Remember Bachmann squatting in the bushes at the Capitol, peeping at the queers?

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Second Class Tshirt

This is a t-shirt I made to accompany the "Marriage Equality Is Overdue" shower curtain. It's all iron-on. I wore it at Monday's House blogging and will wear it tomorrow at the Senate. The lettering could be bigger but it needs to be high enough on the t-shirt so it isn't covered up while I'm holding the shower curtain. Same lettering on the back, minus the rainbow flag patch.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Monday, January 8 Capitol Blogging

It was quiet outside the House Chambers today compared to the January 3 opening session when lobbyists were swarming. I arrived shortly after noon, in plenty of time to catch the Reps on their way in. Exchanged pleasantries with some legislators that I've known for a long time.
Tom Prichard of the Minnesota Family Council was slithering around. Makes me wonder what they're up to now that they've been vanquished after three years of their filthy, bigoted, and failed anti-gay marriage amendment campaign. They're probably working on a law to set up forced pregnancy concentration camps.
Haven't gotten to the Senate yet. I missed their session today but they meet on Thursday at 11:00 so, I plan to be there around 10:30.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Dog On Log


Simon's big day at the park.

Friday, January 05, 2007

House Meets Monday

The Minnesota House of Representatives will meet Monday, January, 8 at 12:30 PM. I will be there with shower curtain in hand around noon.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Major Ink In Pioneer Press

Wow, it pays to show up. Five paragraphs in the January 4 edition of the Pioneer Press local section as a result of my brief interview with the reporter. I bet nobody was expecting to read about gay marriage the first day of the session. Surprise!
I'll do my best to help keep marriage equality on the minds of legislators. Please join me. This is your state.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Opening Session Demonstration


This shower curtain made its debut at the opening session of the Minnesota Legislature today at noon. That's me standing at the entrance to the House chamber. There were no other demonstrators on any issue present at that location which made me the preeminent kook du jour.
It's interesting to note that there was some concensus among those I talked to today that some small steps toward marriage equality may be achieved this session.
I was interviewed by the Pioneer Press so there might be a quote in the paper tomorrow. My quote, which was a response to Sen. Diane Fienstein's recent gaff that full marriage equality was "too much, too soon," and an encouragement for friendly legislators to boldly move forward was, "equality is never too much, or too soon."

Monday, January 01, 2007

Session Begins Wednesday

My plan is to be at the legislature for opening session carrying a banner that reads, Marriage Equality Is Overdue. I will try to be there every time they meet in session this year. Anyone who cares to join me is most welcome. I will have some extra signs on hand or bring your own. I usually arrive inside the Capitol near the door to the Senate or House chamber a half hour to an hour before they are scheduled to convene in order to have my message seen by the legislators filing into the chamber. After the doors are closed I usually leave unless it promises to be a brief session, in which case I wait for them to come back out. I'm usually there about an hour.